Water Intelligence Brief · Archive

Sevier County, UT

July 6, 2026

Sevier County Water Intelligence Brief

July 6, 2026 | Sevier River Basin

Situation Summary

The Sevier River Basin enters peak irrigation demand season with snowpack fully melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, leaving streamflows dependent entirely on baseflow and any remaining soil moisture contributions rather than ongoing snowmelt. Several key gauges show declining or near-absent flows, signaling tightening supply across the basin as summer heat peaks. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

The single active SNOTEL station reporting for the Sevier River Basin tells a clear story:

Farnsworth Lake (as of July 5): Snow water equivalent 0.1 inches, snow depth 1.0 inch.

At this point in the calendar, measurable SWE at Farnsworth Lake is effectively a trace — the station's normal condition for early July is 0.0 inches, meaning this remnant snowpack is not meaningfully above seasonal norms for this date. The more significant signal is timing: the basin's snowpack melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date due to the anomalous March heat wave that affected the broader Mountain West in 2026. That early meltout means the late-season snowmelt pulse that normally supplements July streamflows has already been spent. No new snowmelt-driven recharge to streams or reservoirs is expected from the basin's snowpack at this time.

Streamflow Conditions

Five USGS gauges provide coverage across the Sevier River Basin, with a mixed picture by location:

  • Manti Creek below Dugway Creek, near Manti (07/06): 7 cfs, falling. This tributary gauge reflects diminishing late-season runoff from the upper Sanpete Valley drainage. The declining trend is consistent with post-meltout baseflow recession.
  • Sevier River at Hatch (07/06): 48 cfs, stable. The uppermost mainstem gauge shows the best relative supply picture in the system, holding steady at a moderate flow level. Stability here may reflect spring contributions or local baseflow conditions in the upper watershed.
  • Sevier River near Kingston (07/06): 2 cfs, falling. This mid-basin gauge is reporting critically low flow and continuing to decline. At 2 cfs, available supply at this point in the system is very limited for diversion purposes.
  • Sevier River near Lynndyl (07/06): 263 cfs, falling. The lower basin gauge near Lynndyl shows substantially higher flow, which likely reflects reservoir operations and system-wide routing rather than natural runoff contributions at this location. The falling trend warrants monitoring.
  • Sevier River near Sigurd: No recent flow data available. This gauge, which would provide important mid-basin context between Kingston and Lynndyl, is currently reporting no data — a notable gap for water managers tracking mainstem conditions through central Sevier County.

    • The most operationally significant finding is the near-absence of flow at Kingston (2 cfs, falling), which indicates very limited natural supply available in the mid-Sevier corridor. The data gap at Sigurd reduces visibility into how flows are changing through the heart of the county.

    Seasonal Guidance

  • Contact the Utah Division of Water Rights (waterrights.utah.gov) to verify your current water right priority status and any active curtailment orders affecting Sevier River diversions.
  • Reach out to the Sevier River Water Users Association for current delivery scheduling and any system-wide allocation adjustments for the remainder of the irrigation season.
  • Check current storage status for Piute Reservoir, Otter Creek Reservoir, and other Sevier Basin facilities directly with the Utah Division of Water Resources (water.utah.gov).
  • Monitor the USGS National Water Information System (waterdata.usgs.gov) for updated flow data at the Sigurd gauge when service resumes, as that location is critical for mid-basin supply tracking.

    • Subscribe for the full brief including reservoir storage, weather forecasts, depletion analysis, and detailed operational recommendations.

    Data Sources: SNOTEL data through July 5, 2026; USGS streamflow data through July 6, 2026

    Data Current As Of: Utah Division of Water Rights

    Important Disclaimers: This brief provides automated analysis for informational purposes only. Specific numerical claims have not been independently verified. Consult official sources including your local water district, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and Utah Division of Water Rights for regulatory decisions and water rights administration.

    Data & Disclaimers

    Sources: NRCS SNOTEL network · USGS National Water Information System · National Weather Service

    This brief provides automated analysis for informational purposes only. Consult official sources including your local water district and state Division of Water Rights for regulatory decisions. This document does not constitute legal, regulatory, or engineering advice.

    Other Issues

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